So…
…..I’m trying my best to commit to writing at least 1k a day. That’s 1000 words of fiction, or roughly 2 pages of 500 words or 3 pages of 333.333 words 😉

And I seem to be doing fairly well keeping up with my goal.

Mind you, it’s only two days into my “New And Improved Writing Career”.

And I’ve written approximately 2.5k, as well as blogged, searched for and purchased cover art at http://www.romancenovelcovers.com ($90 for 6 licenses yesterday; $15 for one license today), went back to Staples for more supplies (I just could NOT resist a 30% off sale and caved in and decided to buy Microsoft Office 2010 instead of using Open Office [free software] — it was only $99 after my 30% sale discount….sadly, my gain is Staples loss [going out of business sale]…

And I know that some writers would consider it a form of “cheating”, but I also bought Dragon Naturally Speaking voice recognition software, in the hopes of boosting my productivity in the area of idea generation. Approx $225 taxes included after 30% discount :). Hopefully, it will be worth the $$$ cha ching $$$ I paid for it…If I don’t make use of it I am going to be super-pissed at myself!!! It came with a digital voice recorder that you can use to take dictation anywhere (i.e. breaks at work, where I intend to do a little dictation when i get story ideas or character ideas or what have you).

Cool thing about Dragon Naturally Speaking is it takes the dictation you made ont he recorder and TURNS IT INTO TYPED TEXT in a word document when you’re done. I’m assuming there will be TERRIBLE growing pains with punctuation and grammar and the like, but i’m not too concerned. Part of my self-discipline issue as a writer (the reason i procrastinate sometimes) is because sitting down and typing things out, or writing them out, especially when you’re skirting the edges of a possible writer’s block — this can seem like a huge thing to overcome or sit down and do. I seem to have the gift of gab, so with any luck, gabbing away at the voice recorder will help me get my ideas down and into typed text in a very efficient, time-saving, and well, smart way!

Dragon naturally speaking works well with a wireless Bluetooth enabled headset, so provided i don’t get a brain tumor, dictating around my apartment should be great!!! I’m really looking forward to using the software — i’m setting it up on my laptop after I wake up from night shift on Thursday. SO EXCITED!

Two more night shifts to go and I can spend some serious writing time, with a dash of exercise thrown in for good measure. The 25lbs I lost between New Years and now was a nice start, but i want to increase productivity in THAT area of my life as well. Maybe I should do a progress log and “Get It Done” chart for exercise, as well as for writing?

Actually, that’s not a TERRIBLE idea! It’s a neurotic idea, an OCD idea, but not a terrible one! Whatever will keep me on track (literally, I think the walking track will be a great way to increase cardio health and burn calories), whatever will work with minimal impact on my hedonistic ways and non-masochistic tendancies is just fine by me!

I will let you know how Dragon naturally Speaking works out for me.

It will either be the best thing since sliced bread, or the worst thing since rancid dairy. Either way: I’m being productive, learning something new about writing and about myself every day and making progress with polishing my skills as a writer!

Maybe if i commit to 1k of writing a day and 1k of walk-run-walk-run-walk-run a day, i will see great improvements all around? If I end up committing to the same for 2k a day, or even 3k a day of both — wow….imagine the stories i could write and then i might actually fit back into my size 10 plaid Le Chateau pants one day!!!

Anyway, that’s about it for now.

I have to eat and head in for a night shift.

For those of you who left comments: thank you for your kind words and encouragement! I appreciate it! For those of you who are fellow authors: what are you doing reading my Blog when you could be writing your masterpiece??? GET TO WORK!

Lil ol’ me

I'm a published Canadian author of contemporary and paranormal romance and erotica (eBooks thus far!), aspiring to become a household horror icon...There's a lot of writer's anxiety and elbow grease (or rather, risk of developing carpal tunnel) that precedes getting published - and this is my blog all about it!